MI London, one of the eight franchises from English cricket’s The Hundred short-form competition, have brought in Indian brand BKT Tyres as a new sponsor.
The South London team unveiled that firm as an official partner yesterday, with the deal giving BKT sleeve sponsorship rights for both the men’s and women’s MI London teams.
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MI London is the rebranded title for the old Oval Invincibles franchise, which was renamed as an entity following its December 2025 part-acquisition by Reliance Strategic Business Ventures (a subsidiary of Indian behemoth Reliance Industries) as part of the overall sales process for stakes in The Hundred teams last year.
In terms of BKT’s previous involvement in cricket, the tyre firm was the sleeve partner of all eight sides from The Hundred in 2024, while it has also had deals in place with the Indian Premier League, that competition’s Women’s Premier League counterpart, as well as the Big Bash League in Australia.
Outside cricket, meanwhile, it is also a partner of Spanish soccer’s top-tier LaLiga, and of rugby union’s Six Nations Championship.
The Oval Invincibles won the 2023, 2024, and 2025 men’s titles in The Hundred, to add to their women’s tournament victories in 2021 and 2022.
The Hundred, up until this year, has seen all its sponsorship deals negotiated centrally by the England and Wales Cricket Board – these agreements, therefore, have covered all eight teams up to this point.
Now, however, with the influx of private part-owners, that will change to some extent, and teams are now in charge of negotiating their own deals.
Oli Slipper, MI London’s chair, has said: “BKT are a committed supporter of sport around the world and we’re pleased to have their backing this summer as MI London take to the field at the Kia Oval.
“Just like our playing teams, BKT have shown that they put fans at the heart of everything they do and we’re going to work closely with them to celebrate everything that is great about cricket.”
This year’s edition of The Hundred will run between July 21 and August 16.
MI London is owned 51% by Surrey County Cricket Club – both sides share use of The Oval, one of English cricket’s most iconic venues – and 49% by Reliance.
Rajiv Poddar, BKT’s joint managing director, added: “Cricket has always been a key pillar of BKT’s sports marketing strategy, and this partnership represents another important milestone in our willingness of strengthening our connection with fans around the world through one of the sport’s most exciting new platforms.”
